This question is a bit tricky and peculiar.
Shen Xiuyan thought for a moment and still shook his head, "In the past, the impoverished Mining Cultivators, when entering the mines for safety, would worship things not knowing whether they were Mountain Gods or spirits."
"But this is because they were poor, with low cultivation; when encountering danger, they couldn’t protect themselves and had to place their fate on the elusive mythical beings."
"The Shen Family’s mines are deep and solid, mostly mined with Spiritual Machines, and few people go down the mines, so it’s unnecessary and almost never builds such things..."
Mo Hua nodded, her gaze tightening, and then asked, "Then your Shen Family...would you massacre an entire family?"
Shen Xiuyan’s face stiffened.
Is it really appropriate to ask such a sharp question directly to him, a Shen Family Elder...
"No." Shen Xiuyan flatly denied.
"Really no?"
"Young Master Mo," Shen Xiuyan sighed, "My Shen Family, after all, is a Fifth-grade family by heredity among the Four Great Sects, a proper Sect. Without reason, without cause, it’s impossible to openly violate the Taoist Law and do such ’massacre’ things."
"If the Taoist Court were to know this, reported to the Taoist Court, my Shen Family wouldn’t be able to escape unscathed."
Mo Hua, suspicious, said, "But, your Shen Family’s Young Master seems very arrogant, ready to kill at the slightest disagreement."
That’s because he’s foolish, his eyes growing above his backside.
Shen Xiuyan cursed secretly.
He’s truly spoiled, lawless, daring to do anything.
"Great families often have wastrels, there’s no way around it." Shen Xiuyan said, "It’s not just the Shen Family; other Great Families are like this too, having some dark dealings more or less in secret."
"Great families are too large, with too many people, and even if the family rules are strict, they’re still beyond control."
"However, those with the backing, the legitimate ones who can act recklessly, are in the minority. Most family descendants still have to follow the rules and are far from being so free."
"Even if these legitimate disciples really make a mistake and kill someone, it doesn’t mean there’s no impact at all."
"In most cases, the family will find some branch members to ’take the blame’ for the legitimate ones, go to the Court Official to confess their crimes, and thus quell the situation."
"In this world, there’s nothing that comes entirely without cost, it’s just that..."
"It’s just that," Mo Hua said, "those with privileges will shift the cost onto others."
Shen Xiuyan sighed and nodded.
"The Young Master in Gushan Hongyan Building, is he called ’Young Master Qing’?" Mo Hua asked again.
"Yes," Shen Xiuyan said, giving the name of that Shen Family Young Master to Mo Hua, "His name is Shen Qingsheng."
"Shen Qingsheng..." Mo Hua repeated, "Is he also a legitimate descendant of the Shen Family?"
"Strictly speaking, not quite." Shen Xiuyan said.
"What do you mean?"
Shen Xiuyan said, "This Shen Qingsheng, he’s a legitimate descendant raised halfway, with not a very pure bloodline, and without the protection of the ancestors."
"Then how is he so prestigious?" Mo Hua was somewhat puzzled.
Shen Xiuyan explained, "His father is a real Powerful Elder, whose jurisdiction includes Solitary Mountain. In Solitary Mountain, he practically rules the place."
"Shen Qingsheng has thus gained from it, so long as he’s in Solitary Mountain City, almost no one dares to control him, and over time, he’s become this lawless personality."
"What’s his father called?" Mo Hua asked.
"Shen Shouxing." Shen Xiuyan said.
"Shen Shouxing, Shen Qingsheng..." Mo Hua nodded, "I remember."
He had asked about almost everything he wanted to know.
This trip had indeed revealed some clues, but not too many...
Mo Hua thought for a moment and then said, "Elder Xiu, could you help me find some Shen Family archives related to Solitary Mountain City? Especially those involving the mines from back then."
Shen Xiuyan frowned tightly.
Mo Hua said, "Never mind if they’re too confidential, ordinary level archives would suffice."
The truth often hides within ordinary details.
Moreover, Shen Xiuyan probably couldn’t get his hands on highly confidential archives.
Shen Xiuyan was a bit troubled but after thinking it over, he didn’t refuse.
He truly didn’t dare to owe Mo Hua any karma.
"Alright, I’ll go back and check." Shen Xiuyan said.
"Thank you, Elder Xiu." Mo Hua said politely.
Shen Xiuyan looked at Mo Hua, hesitated, and finally spoke slowly: "Young Master Mo, you should try... not to get involved in the Shen Family’s matters."
The Shen Family is vast, with deeply rooted power.
Mo Hua, after all, only has Foundation Establishment cultivation, opposing the Shen Family is really not wise.
And besides, it is difficult for him to handle.